A new YouGov survey for The Daily Telegraph suggests that support for the death penalty has fallen below 50% for the first time since it was repealed more than 40 years ago. The fall in public support to 49% comes despite Lord Stevens’ recent high profile call for police killers to face capital punishment.
Attitudes to capital punishment vary widely between political parties:
- 59% to 35% of Conservative supporters are supportive of the death penalty (David Cameron opposes it);
- Labour supporters are split 46% in favour and 47% against;
- Roy Jenkins can rest easy in his grave with the news that only 35% of LibDem supporters favour return of the death penalty and 60% oppose.
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